Fishing in Australia
Full day "Light Tackle/Deep Sea Game Fishing" Experience
Departures : Daily - Depart Cairns 7.30 am and return at 5.00 pm
Package Includes:
One Full Day of Light Tackle / Deep Sea Fishing
35' to 40' Sportsfishing vessel
All fishing tackle with 4kg to 15kg lines
Experienced Skipper and Crew
Lunch and Softdrinks
Return Hotel Transfers
Maximum of 6 Anglers
Price On Application
Please note: With share charters on "Full Day Light Tackle Game Fishing LT1" you can book one person on and Cairns Reef Charter Services finds the other 4 or 5 anglers. Throughout the peak of the season numbers are easily found, but there is the odd occasion where we may need to turn the charter into a 2, 3 or 4 share to guarantee departure. Half day charter rates available on request, also lunch and drinks package costs available on request.
2 DAY / 1 NIGHT EXPERIENCE LIVEABOARD GAME VESSEL
Departures : Daily - Depart Cairns 7.30 am Day 1 and return Day 2 at 5.00 pm
Duration : 2 Days / 1 Night
Package Includes:
One Night Accommodation on 35' to 40' Game Boat
2 Full Days of Light Tackle / Deep Sea Fishing
All fishing tackle with 4kg to 15kg lines
Experienced Skipper and Crew
All meals and beverages including beer, complimentary dinner wines and soft drinks
All snorkelling equipment
Return Hotel Transfers
Maximum of 4 Anglers
Price On Application
To over night on a comfortable live aboard game vessel (2 or more days),
becomes more than just a fishing trip! You'll be able to maximise your
charter to the fullest and explore the Great Barrier Reef - swim, snorkel
and perhaps visit an island or outer reef sand cay! Great for the family.
3 DAY / 2 NIGHT EXPERIENCE LIVEABOARD GAME VESSEL
Departures : Daily - Depart Cairns 8.00 am Day 1 and return Day 2 at 5.00 pm
Duration: 3 Days / 2 Nights
Package Includes:
One Night Accommodation on 49' Game Boat
2 Full Days of Light Tackle Fishing
All Fishing tackle with 4kg to 15kg lines
Experienced Skipper and Crew
All meals and beverages including beer, complimentary dinner wines and soft drinks
All snorkeling equipment
Maximum of 6 Anglers3
Price On Application
3 DAY / 4 NIGHT "GREAT BARRIER REEF" EXPERIENCE LIVEABOARD GAME VESSEL
Departures : Daily - Depart Cairns 8.00am Day 1 and return Day 3 at 5.00pm
Package Includes:
3 Full Days fishing including game, reef and popper fishing
Two Nights Accommodation on 40'to 43' Game Boat
All fishing tackle
Experienced Skipper and Crew
All meals and beverages including beer, complimentary dinner wines and soft drinks
All snorkeling equipment
2 nights accommodation at either Radisson Plaza Hotel, Hotel Sofitel Reef Casino or Cairns International
Hotel Transfers
Maximum of 4 Anglers
Price On Application
Not included - Meals other then on the fishing boat. Replacement lures at cost.
Scuba Diving is optional.
5 DAY / 4 NIGHT EXPERIENCE LUXURY LIVEABOARD GAME VESSEL
Departures: Daily - Depart Cairns 8.00am Day 1 and return Day 5 at 5.00pm
Package Includes:
49' luxury live aboard game vessel
4 Nights Accommodation on vessel
All Fishing tackle with 4 kg to 15 kg lines
Experienced Skipper and Crew
All meals and beverages including beer, bottled water and softdrinks
All snorkelling equipment
Maximum of 6 Anglers
Price On Application
Seasonal Guide to the World's Big Fish Capital in Cairns
The Ultimate Big Game
Giant Black Marlin - The Cairns area has long been recognised as the Black Marlin Capital of the World. Without a doubt, the area stretching from Cairns north to the reefs around beautiful Lizard Island would be the finest fishing region in the world. The Black Marlin of the Pacific Ocean migrate to this 240km section of the Great Barrier Reef annually to spawn. Beginning with the arrival of the first fish in early September, the marlin season extends through til late December. During the season our superb range of game boats and motherships are to be found on the outer edge of the reef in the Coral Sea. This quest is for the biggest and most powerful of all game fish - the legendary Black Marlin. There are various methods of fishing for the Giant Black, most successful being a live aboard game boat or game boat and mothership, providing flexibility to move where the fish are and not be restricted to a set area in this 240km stretch of the Great Barrier Reef. To overnight on the Great Barrier Reef has many advantages. Because these boats are located just minutes from the action, there is ample opportunity for the light tackle enthusiast or sportfisherman to also catch some table fish or battle with some of the speedsters that the reef is teeming with such as Wahoo, Mackerel, Barracuda, Dolphin Fish, Sailfish and Tunas, just to name a few! Or perhaps a morning dive or snorkel!
Live Aboard Game Boats - If not restricted by time constraints there are very definite advantages to be gained from overnighting on the reef. Firstly there is the opportunity to fish until later in the afternoon on day one, many of the skippers believe this to be the most productive part of the day. Secondly you avoid the trip home and then thirdly, the next morning you can be having breakfast, swim and snorkel on the reef before commencing fishing, while the day boats are travelling out to the reef. Our fleet of large sophisticated sportsfishing machines range in size from 12 metres to 20 metres (40' to 64') and are fully equipped with every conceivable comfort that one may require while at sea for any length of time.
Standard Packages include:
Fishing equipment (international standard), all meals on board, experienced crew (minimum of 3), while our Deluxe Packages also provide staterooms with ensuite, TV/stereo/video, fully airconditioned, ice-maker etc. Optional Extras: Dive equipment compressor, dive master-instructor, foreign language guide/interpreter.
Mothership/Game Boat Combination - This option provides the angler with even more luxurious accommodation. Our motherships range in size from 18 metres (60') to 33 metres (110') allowing the angler accommodation and cuisine to the standard of a five star hotel. Anglers live aboard the mothership and fish from our highly specialised game boats every day. As many as three individual game boats and their parties can use the facilities of the mothership.
LIGHT TACKLE BIG GAME - Every salt water game fisherman has a dream - a dream of finding and fighting the giant game fish over the magic four figures - the granders. The Cairns/Lizard Island fishing area of Australia's Great Barrier Reef has in every year since its first in 1966, given the anglers of the world their best chance of taking or tagging and releasing a game fish over 1000 lbs. The giant black marlin are the super fish of the GBR that make this dream come true. Every year more grander black marlin are brought to boat, some to weigh, some for tag and release in this Australian super hot spot than anywhere in the world. US angler, Richard Obach in 1966 landed the first of those giants of the Great Barrier Reef with his 1,064 pounder on 37 kg (80 lbs) test) while fishing with Captain George Bransford on Sea Baby. This fish became the first of many IGFA world records for black marlin from the Great Barrier Reef. This giant black marlin was not an isolated super fish. Every season in these beautiful and productive reef waters some anglers' dreams will come to reality in this home of the granders.
The options are endless - Black Marlin, Blue Marlin, Pacific Sailfish, Narrow Barred Mackerel, Barracuda, Wahoo, Dogtooth Tuna, Dolphin Fish, Giant Trevally, the list goes on. So if you are looking for your first billfish, an elusive line class world record or just a great fishing trip with non-stop fishing action -Cairns is the place to be!
Cairns is always in the thick of things when world records are being mentioned and the past few seasons have been no exception, with record Black Marlin, Narrow Barred Mackerel, Giant Trevally just to name a few. With "tag & release" gaining momentum very few billfish are weighed these days and this conservation ethic is responsible for continuing world class light tackle action. With the constant evolution of boats, equipment and crews there are some top class young Captains and crews coming through the ranks to challenge the established masters, some of whom are recognised as amongst the best in the world. We have boats that specialise in trolling lures & baits or fishing live baits, casting lures and even saltwater fly for the impressive array of speedsters that haunt the warm turquoise waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Casting surface popper lures adds an exciting visual dimension to fishing for the "never say die" Giant Trevally. The sight of these brutes jostling each other out of the way to eat a piece of painted wood is guaranteed to give even the most hardened angler an adrenalin rush. This very specialised form of fishing has been perfected by our leading guides into a real art form and comes into the category of "not to be missed" while in Cairns.
Packages include: Day or extended trips, including all fishing equipment and meals. Day share charters also available.
Reef Fishing - Fishing for the delicious bottom dwelling fish of the Great Barrier Reef can be lots of fun. Superb eating fish such as Coral Trout, Red Emperor, Nannygai, Sweetlip head the list of dozens of species likely to be caught while fishing the deep holes around the reefs. Not knowing what you're going to pull up next certainly adds to
the anticipation and many of these fish pull hard enough to be more than worthy quarries even on the heavy hand lines necessary for this style of fishing. For the
sportsfishing enthusiast, rod and reel fishing can be arranged. A typical day starts at 07.00 and returns 17.00. Night trips, weekends and extended charters also available by special arrangement.
Sport Fishing
Cairns - Calm Water
The guides we use are experts in the use of light and even ultra light tackle. They have the equipment and skills to enable you to take full advantage of the chances that present themselves. Several I.G.F.A. world records have been established here in the past couple of years (on Queenfish and Barramundi) and there are plenty of others just begging to be broken. Thrill to the wild jumping of our famous Barramundi and Queenfish or the lightning strike and almost unstoppable run of the Mangrove Jack as he heads for cover. These low cost fishing trips journey through some of the finest mangrove and rainforest areas the Tropical North has to offer.
Many locations are surprisingly close to Cairns and provide the angler with a truly rewarding environmental experience. The incredibly prolific mangrove areas are just teeming with life from the majestic sea eagles and other bird life to the ultimate survivor "the saltwater crocodile". The photographic opportunities are magnificent. We have a range of packages available from 1 to 3 days or more.
Heli-Fishing - Sportfishing in the Far Northern Tropics takes on a new dimension as we fly into places so remote, it takes a helicopter to fish them. Soaring over the rainforest clad mountains you will visit isolatedlagoons and crystal clear mountain rivers that abound with fish and wildlife. We target such renowned species as the Barramundi, Sooty Grunter, Jungle Perch, (Mountain Trout) and Tarpon.You are guaranteed the trip of a lifetime with our experienced pilots and guides. Whether lure fishing or fly casting we ensure you use the latest tackle technology. Hunting for wild boar or a combination hunting/fishing trip can be tailored to your requirements.
Packages include: day or extended trips, all fishing tackle, meals and drinks.
Fly Fishing - (The fastest growing method of fishing in Cairns!) Increasing demand for this style of fishing has meant that we now have expert guides available to tackle everything from fresh-water species such as Jungle Perch, Sooty Grunter and Tarpon to estuary fish like our famous Barramundi, Mangrove Jack, Queenfish and Trevally. The Barrier Reef offers another dimension to this fast growing sport with Marlin and Sailfish truly the ultimate achievement for the saltwater flyfishing enthusiast and we have the best guides available.
Blue Water - A very specialised branch of the art is practised here by some very talented guides who have notched up world record captures recently on the abundant small Black Marlin in the winter and spring months. Other species targeted are Tuna, Narrow Barred Mackerel, Giant Trevally, Wahoo, Dolphin Fish etc. Typically using 10 weight to 16 weight tackle.
Estuary and Rivers - The powerful jumps of the mighty barramundi with their flared gills will make you appreciate why this is the most sought after light tackle sportfish in Australia, and they just love flies. Other candidates for wet fly or "popper" fly are Mangrove Jacks, Trevally, Estuary Cod, Queenfish, Archer Fish etc. Typically using 10 weight to 16 weight tackle.
Freshwater - These fast flowing rainforest streams are home to the aerobatic little "chrome plated" variety of Tarpon that we have in Australia, the plucky little Jungle Perch and the particularly bold Sooty Grunter- all 3 are suckers for fly! Typically using 6 weight to 9 weight tackle.
Packages Include: Quality gear is available, however anglers are encouraged to bring their own.
Lake Tinaroo - Surprisingly close to Cairns, Lake Tinaroo has a lot to offer the angler who seeks "bigger and better" fish. The stories that abound about the size of the "Barramundi" in this gentle lake prove themselves in the record books. We offer fully guided day trips, although, why not stay for a little longer? Lake Tinaroo on the Atherton tablelands offers a very picturesque and civilized alternative to our more remote locations. Choose from 4 star lodges to cozy cabins to charming B&B's - the
family will have plenty to see and do whilst you pit your skills against the biggest "Barra" you ever saw.
Weipa - Situated on the West Coast of Cape York in the Gulf of Carpentaria lies the mining town of Weipa. There are daily flights but all the roads leading into and out of Weipa are unsealed maintaining it's remoteness. Weipa is the starting point and base for a wide variety of fishing expeditions including an extended liveaboard safari. The waterways adjacent to Weipa are extensive; blue water, beaches, headlands, mangrove rivers and creeks. Combined with the diversity of species available to be targeted and the wilderness of the coastline this is the fishing safari of a lifetime, a dream come true! Weipa is best known for it's Barramundi and the proximity of its very large rivers. As well as the "Barra", the variety and size of other species available continue to surprise and impress anglers fishing inland as well as offshore with a huge number of light tackle salt water species reported. The prevailing south easterly trade winds that blow for most of the dry season are all off shore providing ideal inshore conditions, making this side of the cape a fly fishing and light tackle sport fishing mecca.
Seisia - Seisia provides a base from which to access the remote wilderness of Cape York for a week of the most mind blowing fishing you will ever experience. Fish two oceans - both sides of Cape York, just 15 minutes ramp to ramp. The sportsfishing opportunities both salt water and fresh are exceptional. The Jardine and Jacky Jacky rivers are one of Cape York's pristine wilderness areas and home to a vast array of tropical sportsfish. Our professional guide based in Seisia will take you to some of the best fishing spots in the world - whether you are after your first "Barra" or want to experience the thrill of never knowing just what you're going to pull up next, Seisia is the place to visit. Gateway to the Torres Strait, Seisia is located on the beachfront, 8km NW of Bamaga and is the smallest of the communities of the Northern Peninsula. Daily flights to Bamaga airstrip maintain year round access as during the "Wet" this northern most tip of Australia becomes isolated by road. It is an absolute paradise for the angler, adventurer, birdwatcher, naturalist, history buff and beach comber alike!
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